Dynamo 0, Morelia 1 - postgame notes

The
Houston Dynamo were eliminated from SuperLiga in the semifinals Thursday night,
falling 1-0 to Monarcas Morelia at Robertson Stadium. Morelia advanced to the
SuperLiga championship game against the New England Revolution later this
month.

The
Dynamo will face a quick turnaround with a Sunday road game against the Seattle
Sounders at Qwest Field in Seattle, with their third match in nine days kicking
off at 10 p.m. CT. Houston is 3-3-5 while playing 11 games in 41 days following
the Major League Soccer break for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The
physical match featured 36 fouls, six yellow cards, and a red card. Morelia’s
Adrian Aldrete was ejected in second half stoppage time for a second yellow
card.

The
game-winning goal came shortly after halftime, as Morelia forward Miguel Sabah
played a one-two with Rafael Marquez Lugo, who chipped a pass into the penalty
area. Sabah continued his run and reached the ball just before Dynamo
goalkeeper Tally Hall, lobbing the ball over the netminder and into the net
after the bounce eluded Houston’s Bobby Boswell.

The
Dynamo had several great chances to tie the game in the final minutes, but a
20-yard free kick by Corey Ashe was blocked at the top of the box, and a shot
from Lovel Palmer inside the penalty area was deflected just wide.

The
Dynamo dropped to 1-4 in international semifinals, including both Champions’
Cup and SuperLiga games. The loss was only Houston’s second in 13 all-time
SuperLiga matches (7-2-4), both by 1-0 margins at home. The other loss came on
July 15, 2008, against Chivas de Guadalajara. Houston is now 6-4-3 all-time at
home against Mexican teams in competition.

The
best news on the night for Houston was a substitute appearance by Geoff Cameron
less than four months after he ruptured his right PCL against the Chicago Fire
on April 24. Initially ruled out for the season, Cameron earned an ovation from
the Houston crowd on his entrance Thursday night.